Hundreds flock to Walsall dog show 'saved at last minute' - with pictures
Organisers of a dog show has thanked a visitors centre and a council for helping to keep their show on the road - after an illegal travellers camp threatened to cancel the whole thing.
Greyhound Cap held its biggest event of the year on Sunday where 200 dogs attended.
But organisers had to change the venue hours before its opening after travellers set up camp on Walsall Arboretum.
They managed to find a new venue at Marquis Drive Visitor Centre in Cannock where the show got on the road.
Charity founder Lisa Cartwright said: "This is such an important event to us. It is just one of those things with the travellers.
"I think Walsall Council has been absolutely fantastic. They did offer us an alternative pitch but unfortuantely we were unsure whether the travellers had moved on by then or not.
"We had an offer to move to Cannock chase. I can't thank the visitor centre enough. Within 20 minutes of speaking to us for the first time without knowing who we were, they had fitted us in."
The dog show is held twice a year and raises funds for the charity. Contests are held which judge dogs on appearances.
Greyhound Gap rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes greyhounds and lurchers who find themselves awaiting to be put down in UK pounds.
The charity pays to bring the animals back up to health before finding them new homes.
Lisa added: "We had to move at the last minute but it was fabulous, it was great so many people managed to get the word out."
The charity also takes in other dogs in special circumstances.
For more information, visit www.greyhoundgap.org.uk
